Episode #210 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! We're coming at you a little later this week as we wanted to talk about the results of the 2017 NBA Draft, as well as the most recent NBA Live 18 gameplay videos, and a couple of other recent news stories.

On this week's show...

EA Play attendees have released new gameplay videos of NBA Live 18, while offering up further hands-on impressions. We share our thoughts on what we've been shown, from the animations to the new Shot Meter.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #211 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Without any new previews for NBA Live 18 or NBA 2K18 in the past week, Arcane and I take the opportunity to catch up on recent events in our modding community. We also talk about a couple of the big stories heading into this year's NBA free agency bonanza.

On this week's show...

NBA 2K17 PC is currently 75% off on Steam. If you've been looking to double-dip, or you've been holding off on getting the latest game from 2K, now's a good opportunity.

The 2017 season may be over, but our modding community is still hard at work. We talk a little about the latest roster projects for the PC, including Dee4Three's releases and the upcoming community roster update, and SkillzFromThe6's detailed offseason roster for PlayStation 4.

Our Week in Basketball Gaming has mostly revolved around NBA Playgrounds, which is currently also on sale through Steam.

Phil Jackson is out in New York. Knicks fans seem to be happy, but are also wondering why it took so long.

Chris Paul has been traded to the Houston Rockets, setting up what might be a very interesting offseason.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #212 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! In addition to a wild week of free agency in the NBA, Arcane and I discuss DeMar DeRozan's NBA 2K18 cover, Saber Interactive's battle with Nintendo to push through patches for NBA Playgrounds, a rare collectable, and more.

On this week's show...

DeMar DeRozan will grace the Canadian cover of NBA 2K18. It's the first time that Canada will receive a region-specific cover for NBA 2K, though it's worth noting that DeRozan himself isn't Canadian.

Nintendo Switch users are still waiting for the NBA Playgrounds patches, but it isn't Saber Interactive's fault. CEO Matthew Karch has provided some hints as to why there's been a holdup at Nintendo's end.

A rare copy of the unreleased PAL version of Lakers vs. Celtics for the SEGA Mega Drive is currently attracting some huge bids on eBay.

Our Week in Basketball Gaming included a 2K Pro-Am victory that was tough to get excited about, some great card pulls in MyTEAM, and Arcane's first look at the full version of NBA Playgrounds.

We wrap up Episode #212 of the NLSC Podcast with a recap of the wild first week of the 2017 NBA offseason, and our thoughts on all the big player moves.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #213 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! The initial flurry of offseason movement is over, and we're still waiting for the preview season to get into gear, but Arcane and I do have a few things to talk about this week. Join us as we discuss the latest NBA Live 18 rumours, catch up on what's going on in our modding community, and reminisce about a fun week of basketball gaming.

On this week's show...

It seems that we can mark August 11th on our calendars as being a significant date in the preview season for NBA Live 18. Current speculation is that it's when the demo will drop, but we also discuss a couple of other possibilities.

The modding community has been doing some great work with final 2017 season and 2017 offseason rosters for NBA 2K17 (both on PC and PS4), as well as NBA 2K13 and NBA 2K14. We recap some of the latest releases, and works in progress.

Our Week in Basketball Gaming included a very satisfying session of 2K Pro-Am, a couple of MyCAREER games, some online head-to-head with an old friend, and grinding for packs in NBA Playgrounds.

We wrap up Episode #213 of the NLSC Podcast with a reminder about some NLSC merch, available through Arcane Apparel!

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #214 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we discuss the latest NBA 2K18 tidbits including player ratings and the newly announced soundtrack, catch up on a couple of other recent news stories, and recap our past week in basketball gaming.

On this week's show...

A recent promo shoot for NBA 2K18 has revealed some early player ratings. The players themselves were on hand to hear them, and not all of them were pleased with what they heard!

The soundtrack for NBA 2K18 has been revealed. We're neither thrilled nor upset with the selection, but we do wish that we were getting some more substantial details about this year's game.

A significant content update is in the pipeline for NBA Playgrounds. New tournaments seem quite likely, but could we also see a slam dunk contest and three-point shootout added to the game?

Five copies of NBA Elite 11 have been listed on eBay for $30,000 US. Glancing at our bank accounts, we might have to pass on making an offer. We do ponder how much we'd pay for a copy, though.

Our Week in Basketball gaming included a so-so run in 2K Pro-Am, and some head-to-head games against each other in NBA Playgrounds.

Paul Pierce has signed with the Boston Celtics, in order to retire a Boston Celtic. It seems to be a new trend with retiring players, and honestly, we don't mind it.

We wrap up Episode #214 of the NLSC Podcast with some thoughts on the new jersey designations that the NBA will be using moving forward.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #215 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Arcane and I have plenty to talk about this week with the first proper previews for NBA 2K18 coming out, along with the latest content update for NBA Playgrounds. There's also Kyrie Irving's trade demand, a short article on shoes in NBA Live 18, and more.

On this week's show...

The first NBA 2K18 screenshots have been released. What do we think of this year's aesthetics?

We received a ton of information about MyLEAGUE and MyGM by way of the first developer blog. This year's franchise modes sound awesome!

Did the 2K TV finale drop a hint about additional retro teams in NBA 2K18? We believe it's a possibility.

Sole Collector published a short article about shoes in NBA Live 18, which also went into the history of EA Sports getting authentic shoes into their game.

The next big content update for NBA Playgrounds has come through. While there are still a few issues with the game, it continues to get better and better.

Not surprisingly, the five copies of NBA Elite 11 listed on eBay for $30,000 USD didn't sell. They haven't been re-listed, but another copy is still available...for $4,000 USD.

Our Week in Basketball Gaming included some of the most enjoyable sessions of online play we've ever had, in both 2K Pro-Am and MyPARK. Also, grinding for packs in NBA Playgrounds, MyTEAM Domination, and fantasy exhibitions.

Kyrie Irving has surprisingly demanded a trade. We wonder where he'll end up, and whether Visual Concepts will do anything about the NBA 2K18 cover if he's dealt.

We wrap up Episode #215 of the NLSC Podcast with some information on the latest NLSC merch by Arcane Apparel.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #216 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we discuss the news of the past week, including the NBA Live 18 demo and WNBA teams, the NBA Playgrounds Roster Unlock DLC, and a couple of NBA 2K18 snippets. And as always, we tell a few stories about our past week in basketball gaming.

On this week's show...

The NBA Live 18 demo will be coming out next week, August 11th. We've also found out a little more about The Streets portion of The One.

EA Sports has also announced that all twelve WNBA teams will be included in NBA Live 18. We feel it's a pretty good idea, and speculate on the future of additional content in NBA Live.

The latest NBA 2K18 screenshots are looking very good, with some noticeable improvements to a couple of players. For what it's worth, we've also found out a few more player ratings.

A couple of interviews have provided us with some snippets of information regarding improvements to gameplay and MyPLAYER Archetypes in NBA 2K18, as well a few additional details on the new story in MyGM.

Saber Interactive has released a Roster Unlock for NBA Playgrounds. The idea definitely has merit and it's something gamers have been asking for, but not everyone is happy about it.

NBA 2K17 is the highest selling Take Two sports title to date. It's also raking in higher than expected revenue from microtransactions.

Our Week in Basketball Gaming has included some fun moments and satisfying victories in 2K Pro-Am and MyPARK, and more enjoyment out of an old school fantasy approach in Play Now.

We wrap up Episode #216 of the NLSC Podcast with some NBL talk. Yes, really!

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Good to know! I'm exporting the file at a higher bit rate for the full show, and an even higher bit rate for the YouTube videos. Speaking of which... clips from Episode #216 are up on the YouTube channel!

Episode #217 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we provide our impressions of the NBA Live 18 Demo and Companion App, share our thoughts on some other NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18 news items from the past week, and talk about our recent activities on the virtual hardwood.

On this week's show...

Shortly after we finished recording last week's NLSC Podcast, the Companion App for NBA Live 18 was released. How does it compare to the NBA Live 16 app, and how did our face scans turn out?

The NBA Live 18 Demo is out now. In one of our longest segments to date, we provide some in-depth initial impressions of our first hands-on look at this year's game from EA Sports.

NBA Live 18 is now available to pre-order, with a 33% discount on offer. There also appears to be a Deluxe edition of the game, though no further details are available at this time.

Wrapping up the NBA Live 18 news, the full soundtrack has been released. Notably, some big names have contributed tracks this year.

The second Developer Diary for NBA 2K18 provided us with a look at the gameplay, as well as an insight into the aesthetic improvements in this year's game. We also have some hands-on impressions from the community, more screenshots, and mention of amiibo compatibility.

We'll be getting another edition of The Prelude before the release of NBA 2K18, but it's reportedly different to last year's demo. Naturally, that news invites speculation.

Episode #217 of the NLSC Podcast wraps up with Our Week in Basketball Gaming, which included a troubleshooting fail (albeit with a happy ending), a brewing rivalry for NLSC THRILLHO, and an elusive PlayStation Trophy.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #218 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! With the preview season well and truly underway, Arcane and I have plenty of things to talk about this week, including the NBA Live 18 pre-order bonuses, the latest trailers and developer blogs for NBA 2K18, and some news that (of course) broke shortly after we finished recording Episode #217.

On this week's show...

Since its release, the NBA Live 18 demo has been receiving some patches, so it would appear that the experience will continue to be tweaked based on user feedback. Hopefully, this will also bode well for the inevitable Day One patch.

The One Edition of NBA Live 18 has been confirmed, and it includes a couple of in-game pre-order bonuses, as well as a 33% discount from participating retailers.

2K Sports dropped the "Get Shook" trailer, along with a developer blog describing the improvements to gameplay in NBA 2K18. It sounds like the team has been focusing on the right things this year.

A trailer and developer blog for MyTEAM in NBA 2K18 has also been released. The trailer itself was a little cringe-worthy, but overall the news is good there too.

All-Time Teams and sixteen new Classic Teams will be added in NBA 2K18. We share our thoughts on the new classic teams that have been revealed so far.

We wrap up Episode #218 of the NLSC Podcast with Our Week in Basketball Gaming, which has seen our 2K Pro-Am season for NBA 2K17 approach its final few sessions, and more grinding for cards in NBA Playgrounds. We also look ahead to our future weeks of basketball gaming.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #219 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Kenny returns to the show this week, joining Arcane and I in a discussion of all the latest topics of interest to our community, including further NBA Live 18 demo impressions, the new historical content in NBA 2K18, and the Kyrie Irving trade.

On this week's show...

We tip off the show with some further impressions of the NBA Live 18 demo. The game has also been receiving some support in IGN's Player's Choice Awards.

Arcane is running a Madden 18 giveaway for PlayStation 4. Entries close August 31st, so get them in ASAP!

All of the new classic teams in NBA 2K18 have been revealed, including an additional seventeenth squad. The full lineups for the All-Time Teams have also been posted. We share a few opinions on the new historical content.

With Kyrie Irving being traded to the Boston Celtics, it seems that a new cover for NBA 2K18 will be issued at some point.

An upcoming Facebook event will provide us with details on MyCAREER in NBA 2K18. We speculate on this year's story, based on the event name and hashtag.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #220 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Arcane and I have plenty to talk about following a big week of NBA 2K18 news, as well as the release of a new patch for the NBA Live 18 demo. The question is, as always, now that the show has been recorded, will any further news break over the weekend?

On this week's show...

Patch 1.05 has been pushed through for the NBA Live 18 demo, and this time, we have a few patch notes. Once again, we take the opportunity to offer some further impressions of the demo, and encourage everyone to keep the feedback coming.

Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett will be joining NBA 2K18's broadcasting team as special guest commentators. Unfortunately for KG, the game is only rated E10+.

The latest NBA 2K18 developer blogs by Scott O'Gallagher and Da_Czar have delivered a lot of promising news about improvements to AI, playcalling, and gameplay in general.

NBA 2K18 will see the debut of The Neighborhood, a new online open world experience that encompasses MyCAREER, 2K Pro-Am, and MyPARK (now called The Playground). It's very cool, but we do have a few questions and concerns.

There will be 189 MyPLAYER Archetypes this year, with primary and secondary archetypes and hybrid styles. Excellent news, in our opinion.

A list of Achievements for The Prelude has been leaked, hinting at this year's story. Mild spoiler warning!

We wrap up Episode #220 of the NLSC Podcast with Our Week in Basketball Gaming, which included a couple of really fun sessions of 2K Pro-Am as our season in NBA 2K17 continues to draw to a close.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #221 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! We're in the final countdown to the release of this year's games from EA Sports and 2K Sports, and Arcane and I have plenty to talk about with a big update to the NBA Live 18 Demo, as well as the release of The Prelude to NBA 2K18.

On this week's show...

The NBA Live 18 Demo has received another update. On top of making some further gameplay tweaks, it also added updated rosters, and two additional teams to Play Now: the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets.

EA Access subscribers on Xbox One are currently enjoying a ten hour trial of the full version of NBA Live 18. Their streams and impressions suggest further improvement over the demo, which is great news.

A Game Informer article provided us with a few details on this year's MyCAREER story ahead of the release of The Prelude, and some further information about The Neighborhood.

In the wake of a somewhat flat trailer, The Prelude has been released, along with the MyNBA2K18 companion app. We tip off our impressions with a few thoughts on face scanning.

We're not impressed by the lack of customisation options, nor the decision to put more content behind a VC paywall. It's a continuation of a disheartening trend that began in NBA 2K17.

The story in this year's MyCAREER mode leaves something to be desired. Although we like the general idea of being able to pick our team, the plot, acting, and characters are rather corny, with one character in particular being a bit uncomfortable.

Although the brevity of The Prelude was disappointing, the gameplay was a highlight, and demonstrates some pleasing improvements that have us looking forward to the full version of NBA 2K18.

We wrap up Episode #221 of the NLSC Podcast with Our Week in Basketball Gaming, which featured NLSC THRILLHO's final 2K Pro-Am game for NBA 2K17, and the acquisition of a long-coveted MyPARK trophy.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #222 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane, Kenny, and myself as we offer up our initial impressions of NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18, and look ahead to the 2018 season of basketball gaming.

On this week's show...

After spending quite a bit of time with the demo, we finally have our hands on the full version of NBA Live 18. Pleasingly, the game is feeling like a significant step forward.

Interestingly, WNBA Play Now has been a lot of fun, changing up the experience. It definitely feels like something to build upon.

Ultimate Team could stand to be deeper, but there are a couple of nice features with the starter packs, based on your favourite team.

Franchise needs some work, but may be worth checking out as well. All in all, NBA Live 18 is shaping up to be a good comeback for the series.

Our initial impression of NBA 2K18 is that the NBA gameplay is a bit more fun than MyCAREER on the sticks, but it's mostly some of the concepts that bug us. Starting from scratch again has us a little shook (sorry).

The biggest gripes with NBA 2K18 so far? The VC gouging, and a bewildering change to free throw shooting for MyPLAYERs.

Despite our complaints, there are some noticeable improvements to the gameplay, and other modes are looking good as well.

There's still a lot to sink our teeth into, but on the whole, we are looking forward to the next year of basketball gaming, in both NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #223 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane, Kenny, and myself as we offer up further impressions on NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18, discuss some recent controversies, and comment on the Carmelo Anthony trade.

On this week's show...

Following on from our initial positive impressions, we continue to enjoy our experiences in NBA Live 18. There is still room for improvement however, and we've identified some issues that we definitely hope can be patched.

We're glad to see the new Nike Statement jerseys added to NBA Live 18, but the latest roster update leaves something to be desired. Hopefully, post-release support will be on point this year, once the season begins.

Moving on to NBA 2K18, while we're still liking the 5v5 gameplay and looking forward to MyLEAGUE, we've really soured on MyCAREER. 2K Pro-Am meanwhile proved to be a disaster last week, which is a shame given how much we enjoyed the mode in NBA 2K17.

A lot of users has been losing their MyPLAYERs in NBA 2K18, which has been a tremendous pain for anyone who happened to purchase VC to upgrade them. A nasty bug has also caused problems with pre-order bonuses disappearing when creating new MyPLAYERs.

Although NBA 2K18 has been receiving high scores from several publications as usual, some reviewers - and a lot of gamers - aren't so enthusiastic. One review in particular has attracted controversy.

We wrap up Episode #223 of the NLSC Podcast with a few thoughts on the trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Is Melo a little underrated?

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #224 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and myself as we discuss the past week in basketball gaming and NBA news, as well as provide our ongoing impressions of NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18.

On this week's show...

New rosters have come through for NBA Live 18, and they include the two biggest transactions from the past week or so. Unfortunately, there are still some issues with missing transactions and players, incorrect jersey numbers, and a couple of other problems.

Master Challenges have been added to Ultimate Team in NBA Live 18. We're glad to see new content being added so early, and hope that it will continue throughout the season.

NBA 2K18 has received another patch this week, addressing some noteworthy technical problems in modes and gameplay. It's quite welcome, but how many title updates will we see this year?

The problems with microtransactions and grinding in NBA 2K18 continue to be a big story. It has spread beyond the basketball gaming community, as mainstream publications and content creators are touching upon it. We crunch a few numbers, and provide some more thoughts on the situation.

Downloadable versions of the updated NBA 2K18 cover are now available. It's a nice gesture, but could it result in collectors being scammed?

Our Week in Basketball gaming included a tentative second attempt at 2K Pro-Am, more grinding, some fun Play Now games in NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18, more grinding, MyTEAM games, and yes, more grinding. MyLEAGUE games to follow, closer to the start of the 2018 season.

Dwyane Wade has joined the Cleveland Cavaliers. Can anyone in the East compete with the Cavs this season?

We wrap up Episode #224 of the NLSC Podcast with a nice story about Dirk Nowitzki and an appreciative Dallas Mavericks fan.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #225 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and myself as we discuss the past week in basketball gaming news, including topics related to NBA Live 18, NBA 2K18, and NBA Playgrounds. As always, we also recount our most recent experiences on the virtual hardwood.

On this week's show...

Patch 1.04 has been released for NBA Live 18. In addition to addressing some key technical issues, it's made some pleasing improvements to the feel of the game. There is, of course, still room for improvement.

As it turns out, NBA Live 18 was one of the most downloaded games on PSN in September, which bodes well for a strong comeback for the brand.

Xbox One users are facing some technical restrictions in terms of uploading media from NBA 2K18. Once again, we discuss the frustration with the lack of sound recording on both Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

It seems that player face scans are being used for AI players in 2K Pro-Am. As such, it seems like a perfect opportunity to have some fun with wacky scans.

NBA Playgrounds has received a new patch, and more controversially, paid DLC which adds eight Class of 2017 rookies and three new playgrounds. The move seems to lack the goodwill that Saber Interactive has previously demonstrated.

We wrap up Episode #225 of the NLSC Podcast with Our Week in Basketball Gaming. We're not quite done with MyCAREER or 2K Pro-Am yet, so the grind continues. Also, we lay out some more plans for both NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #226 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane, Kenny, and myself as we discuss the latest updates for NBA Live 18, NBA 2K18, and NBA Playgrounds, recount our recent basketball gaming experiences, and look ahead to the 2018 NBA season.

On this week's show...

New rosters have been released for NBA Live 18, accounting for recent transactions and adding new classic uniforms for eight teams. With the 2018 season right around the corner, we hope that EA will remain on the ball with forthcoming updates.

Patch 1.04 has been released for NBA 2K18. It's a substantial update and addresses a lot of issues, but unfortunately, it's caused a lot of problems as well. Bewilderingly, it's also nerfed certain VC rewards even further.

NBA Playgrounds has received a hotfix that addresses an issue with the previously released Roster Unlock DLC. Once again, we reflect on how the game has evolved since launch, and whether paid DLC is a wise approach given the circumstances.

Our Week in Basketball Gaming included our best session of 2K Pro-Am in NBA 2K18 so far, further progress in MyCAREER and The One, and a bit of Ultimate Team.

The 2018 NBA season tips off next week! We've felt a bit jaded and disillusioned in recent years, so we're hoping that the upcoming campaign will be a fun and exciting one that we can really get into.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

To cut down on redundancy, I've closed the separate mailbag topic, and invite any mailbag questions and topic suggestions here in the main discussion topic for the NLSC Podcast. On that note, if you have any suggestions for Episode #227, please post them ASAP!

We did miss recording last week due to scheduling conflicts, but we're looking forward to getting right back to releasing a new show this week. Thanks as always for your support of the NLSC Podcast!

Episode #227 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! We've been off the air for a couple of weeks due to scheduling conflicts and other issues, but Arcane and I are back to talk about the latest news, as well as our recent basketball gaming experiences.

On this week's show...

We tip things off with the revelation that Arcane took part in a community playtesting event at EA Tiburon back in May. Arcane reflects on his experiences, which included a celebrity encounter.

A couple of patches (1.05 and 1.06) have come through for NBA Live 18, as well as some roster updates. We're liking some of the improvements, though we've also identified issues that need to be resolved in NBA Live 19 and beyond.

A new patch (1.05) has also been released for NBA 2K18, at least for PlayStation 4. It too has included some welcome improvements, but has unfortunately caused a couple of new problems.

Two NLSC T-Shirts are now available to purchase from the kiosk in NBA 2K18's Neighborhood. Rep us in The Playground, preferably by winning more games than we've managed to so far!

In response to a mailbag question, we discuss the future of microtransactions in NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18, particularly the latter. How bad could it get, and do we foresee any changes next year?

We also give our thoughts on a question regarding issues with unfinished and unpolished releases.

Our Week in Basketball Gaming, or rather our past couple of weeks in basketball gaming, have included several games of 2K Pro-Am, further progress in MyCAREER, and the new DLC for NBA Playgrounds.

We wrap up Episode #227 of the NLSC Podcast with our thoughts on 2018 NBA season so far.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if you have a listener question or a topic that you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, post it here and we'll consider it for the upcoming show.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #228 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Arcane and I are back on the air after some more technical difficulties last week, but with any luck, we shouldn't have any similar interruptions moving forward. In the meantime, join us as we catch up on the past couple of weeks in NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18 news, and share our latest basketball gaming experiences.

On this week's show...

The release of Star Wars: Battlefront II has led to some crossover content in NBA Live 18. It's not to everyone's taste, but some of the gear is pretty cool.

We now know what LIVESTRIKE entails. A series of Live Events will be available for a short period of time, providing premium content drops featuring exclusive gear.

It seems that we'll be getting more than just gear, as EA Sports has also teased some other new content for NBA Live 18. Will it be a 3v3 mode, as currently rumoured?

Roster updates seem to have taken a back seat in NBA Live 18, which is less than ideal given the lack of roster editing.

Patch 1.05 is out now for the PC and Xbox One versions of NBA 2K18. We also wonder whether a hotfix has come through, resolving lock-up issues in The Neighborhood.

Revenue from microtransactions has increased 57% in NBA 2K18. The question is, are gamers spending the money because they support the business model, or simply out of necessity?

NBA 2K18 has been nominated for a Sports Game of the Year award. Would it be our pick?

Our Week in Basketball Gaming has included some very satisfying wins in 2K Pro-Am, a lot of progress in MyCAREER, and Live Events in NBA Live 18.

We wrap up Episode #228 of the NLSC Podcast with some NBA discussion. Apologies in advance to Boston Celtics fans for jinxing the team.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if you have a listener question or a topic that you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, post it here and we'll consider it for the upcoming show.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Episode #229 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we discuss the latest updates for NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18, recap an eventful week of basketball gaming, and catch up on some NBA news.

On this week's show...

Patch 1.07 provided a significant content update for NBA Live 18, including new rosters and 3v3 play in Live Run. The gameplay itself also continues to improve.

A handful of new players have been added to the All-Time teams and historical squads in NBA 2K18. Unfortunately, some of the biggest names are still absent.

Our Week in Basketball Gaming was full and eventful! Although we had some rough sessions of 2K Pro-Am, we did pick up a few victories (including some in The Playground), continued our respective MyCAREERs, and had fun with NBA Live 18 online and offline. We also discuss shooting mechanics in NBA 2K18.

We wrap up Episode #229 of the NLSC Podcast with some NBA talk, including the Celtics' winning streak coming to an end, the Thunder/Warriors clash, and Derrick Rose's future.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if you have a listener question or a topic that you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, post it here and we'll consider it for the upcoming show.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.

As indicated by the lack of a show post, we had some more technical issues trying to record Episode #230. Unfortunately, Skype has been a bit temperamental as of late, at least whenever it's come time for us to jump on and record. If all goes well, we'll be back on the air this week at the usual time.

Episode #230 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Without any technical issues to keep us off the air, we're back to talk about the latest updates for NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18, share our latest impressions of both games, and catch up on the past couple of weeks in basketball gaming news.

On this week's show...

Patch 1.08 has added comprehensive roster editing to NBA Live 18. We're certainly surprised, and impressed at how the game has continued to improve since launch.

NBA 2K18's Patch 1.06 has addressed some bugs, but also caused a few more problems. To be honest, we're still feeling disappointed with this year's release from Visual Concepts.

The qualifying round for the NBA 2K League will be taking place in January. We share our thoughts on what the League might be like, given our experiences with 2K Pro-Am.

Several t-shirts have been removed from the kiosk in The Neighborhood, mostly due to trademark and copyright concerns. This has led to some issues with lost VC.

A teenager has spent over $17,000 AUS on microtransactions across various games, leading us to once again reflect on their intrusive nature in AAA titles.

Our Week in Basketball Gaming has seen our frustration with 2K Pro-Am reach its boiling point, an enjoyable victory in The Playground, and possible plans to change up our habits on the virtual hardwood.

We wrap up Episode #230 of the NLSC Podcast with some NBA discussion, including recent streaks, and the Jahlil Okafor trade.

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off right here in the Forum! Also, if you have a listener question or a topic that you'd like us to discuss in the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, post it here and we'll consider it for the upcoming show.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on iTunes! You can also find us on Stitcher.